Patents Examined by Dionne Harvey
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Patent number: 6587570Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer operating in accordance with the electrodynamic principle include a diaphragm which has in the region of the coil an annular protrusion which is integrally connected to the diaphragm, wherein the coil is attached, preferably glued, to the annular protrusion at a desired distance from the diaphragm. The attachment can be end face against end face. The diaphragm may in the area of the coil have an annular reinforcing corrugation which is attached to the coil in an appropriate manner, preferably by gluing.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1998Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: AKG Acoustics GmbHInventor: Gino Pavlovic
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Patent number: 6584209Abstract: An open-type magnetic circuitry of loudspeaker includes a lower yoke having a central portion upward projected to form a bobbin, a magnet positioned on top of the bobbin, a voice coil wound around the bobbin and the magnet, and a diaphragm connected at a root portion to the voice coil. The magnetic circuitry of loudspeaker is characterized in that the lower yoke is provided at an upper side surrounding the bobbin with a plurality of radially equally spaced supporting posts, a top end of which being higher than at least a bottom side of the magnet, and that a ring-shaped upper yoke having a central hole is covered onto the top end of the supporting posts, such that heat produced by the voice coil during working could quickly dissipate via the spaces among the supporting posts. Since no heat would accumulate in the loudspeaker, the loudspeaker could always maintain good sound quality.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Inventor: Alex Wang
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Patent number: 6574344Abstract: A directional speaker system includes an enclosure having an inner surface, an outer surface, an open end, and a closed end, a speaker driver directed toward the open end and mounted near the closed end of the enclosure, an in-line phase plug mounted in front of the speaker driver for manipulating the wavefront of sound waves produced by the speaker driver, and a preferably frustoconical shaped wave guide provided between the speaker driver and the open end of the speaker enclosure. A preferably annular space is provided between the enclosure and the wave guide and a plurality of openings are provided between the enclosure at the open end of the enclosure. Out-of-phase sound waves produced by the speaker driver travel into the space and exit the speaker system through the openings.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2000Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Soundtube Entertainment, Inc.Inventors: David Wiener, Steven Burgess
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Patent number: 6567528Abstract: An electrodynamic transducer includes a frame, a magnet assembly providing a magnetic field across an air gap, a voice coil, a coil former for supporting the voice coil in the air gap, and a diaphragm having an outer perimeter and an apex. The coil former is coupled to the apex so that current through the voice coil causing the voice coil to move in the air gap causes the diaphragm to move. A spider is coupled to the coil former to support the voice coil in the air gap. The spider has convolutions radially outward from the coil former. The convolutions include arcs and generally straight sections. A surround is coupled to the outer perimeter and the frame to support the outer perimeter from the frame. The surround has convolutions radially outward from the outer perimeter. The convolutions include arcs and generally straight sections. The generally straight sections may have non-uniform lengths and non-uniformly varying lengths with increasing distance from the coil former.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1999Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Harman International Industries, IncorporatedInventor: Thomas P. Heed
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Patent number: 6549637Abstract: Differential flow vents allow airflow within a vent to be preferential. A flange disposed within a vent introduces non-linearities and causes a preferred direction of airflow into an expanding volume. The differential flow vents are used in conjunction with the natural motion of the loudspeaker cone acting as a pump to cool the loudspeaker cabinet enclosure without having to directly cool the woofer magnet structure. In one embodiment, at least one pair of opposed differential flow vents within the cabinet enclosure provide fresh air to be preferentially circulated to cool the interior of a loudspeaker system. In another embodiment, by providing an odd number of opposed differential flow vents within the cabinet enclosure, positive air circulation also results. By making either the pairs or odd number of differential flow vents to be asymmetrical, dynamic woofer offset is compensated.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1998Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Peavey Electronics Corp.Inventor: Jon M. Risch
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Patent number: 6549634Abstract: A behind-the-ear hearing aid is provided with an electric/acoustic transducer unit with a loud-speaker housing (53) in which there is a loud-speaker membrane 54. The housing (53) is spring-mounted in a capsule (59) in such a way that the capsule (59) and the loud-speaker housing (53) define an intermediate space (U53). The front (R1) of the membrane (54) is connected to the acoustic output (S) of the hearing aid, while the back (R2) is coupled to the intermediate space (U53) via coupling holes (55).Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Phonak AGInventor: Andi Vonlanthen
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Patent number: 6535612Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer which has at least one stator member with an operating surface and a suspended emitter diaphragm spaced from the operating surface of the stator member to enable the diaphragm to oscillate in response to an applied signal voltage. The diaphragm has increased stiffness in a direction along the diaphragm and within the emitter section to enable the emitter diaphragm to oscillate without applying tension in the direction of stiffness. A clamp member secures the diaphragm to maintain the diaphragm in a fixed position relative to the stator to minimize distortion. The clamp member is positioned to define at least two isolated emitter sections for enhancing the frequency response of the transducer. A method is also provided for generating audio output from an electroacoustic transducer.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1999Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: American Technology CorporationInventors: James J. Croft, III, Terry J. Conrad
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Patent number: 6535613Abstract: An air flow control device is positioned relative to the throughbore in the pole piece of the motor structure of a speaker, such that the flow of air entering and leaving a cavity overlying the voice coil and pole piece is directed along a flow path which passes in thermal communication with at least a portion of the interior surface of the former of the voice coil opposite the wire winding on the exterior surface of the former.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 1999Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: JL Audio, Inc.Inventor: Jason A. Ssutu
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Patent number: 6480613Abstract: A loudspeaker set comprises three loudspeakers 29, 30 and 31 for use with a PC having a monitor 24. The loudspeaker 31 is stationary and mounted on the monitor 24. The loudspeakers 29 and 30 are mounted on foldable stands 22 and 23 that enable these loudspeakers to be moved and held at either side of a listener's head 28 for use. The stands each consist of three pivotably connected hollow limbs that enable the loudspeakers to move horizontally and vertically with respect to a top of a table 27 into the position shown in the Figure. When not in use, the stands fold up with the limbs in line to store the loudspeakers 29 and 30 at the sides and behind the monitor 24.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1999Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Inventor: Tony Tzi Chan Choi
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Patent number: 6459800Abstract: A receiver suspension for isolating a hearing device receiver within a hearing device comprises a housing that defines a chamber. The housing is adapted to be inserted into a hearing device shell. The receiver suspension also comprises a cover that is adapted to engage with a proximal end of the housing. An isolation membrane at least partially surrounds the hearing device receiver such that, upon inserting the hearing device receiver into the housing, the isolation membrane suspends the receiver within the housing chamber, thus preventing the receiver from contacting the inside surface of the housing. Preferably, the isolation membrane is formed from a stretched polymer material such as polyurethane or silicone and forms a series of pleats when engaged with the receiver. Alternately, the receiver suspension includes an isolation spring having two grasping members interconnected with a flexure member.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2000Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Sonic Innovations, Inc.Inventor: Owen D. Brimhall
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Patent number: 6438247Abstract: A microphone bearing slider on a diagonal seatbelt member, together with a tethering tape that is positioned along the diagonal seatbelt, from a seatbelt hanger member to the buckle with attachment to the slider, in combination, operate to position the microphone at the same precise location for vocal transmission at each deployment, and to return the assembly to a storage position with no addition attention being required on the part of the communicating person.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1999Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas Mario Cipolla, Ponani Gopalakrishnan, Stephane Herman Maes, Paul Andrew Moskowitz, Jan Sedivy
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Patent number: 6438242Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer in which a plurality of cymbal-type electro-acoustic actuators are disposed in mechanical and electrical parallel between a pair of stiff plates. The resultant transducer resonates at a lower frequency than the cymbals, with a greater generated force.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 1999Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Thomas R. Howarth
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Patent number: 6434251Abstract: A telephone headset apparatus is disclosed. This headset apparatus includes a body having a microphone at one end and a transducer at the opposite end, an earhook, for attaching the apparatus to the ear of the operator, and a mechanism, contained within the body in a movable engagement, for holding the earhook in a frictional engagement that allows for movement of the earhook, with three degrees of freedom. The mechanism is located at a point within the body where upon adjustment of the earhook by the operator (i.e., rotated, tilted, pivoted) the headset apparatus remains properly balanced and within the sound envelope of an operator, for uninterrupted operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1998Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: GN Netcom A/SInventors: Finn Jensen, Steve McGugan
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Patent number: 6427017Abstract: Disclosed is a piezoelectric diaphragm with a transparent piezoelectric member and a transparent electrode. Also disclosed is a portable electronic device that has a display means to display an image and a piezoelectric speaker having a transparent piezoelectric member and a transparent electrode. In this portable electronic device, the piezoelectric speaker is disposed in front of the display means.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1999Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Nozomi Toki
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Patent number: 6427016Abstract: Acoustic devices rely on bending wave action in a panel member, particularly distribution of resonant modes of such bending wave action and related acoustically significant surface vibration over area of said panel member favourable to desired or at least acceptable acoustic device performance. The devices comply with selecting parameters of said panel member affecting said distribution, including configuration/geometry and/or bending stiffness(es), and/or location(s) of bending wave transducer(s) in said area of said panel member; the selecting being in accordance with analytical assessment of power transfer related characteristic(s) of said panel member thus said acoustic device concerned and desiderata therefor correlating with achieving said acoustic device performance.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1999Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: New Transducers LimitedInventors: Henry Azima, Neil Harris, Bijan Djahansouzi
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Patent number: 6418229Abstract: The present invention relates to a directional microphone, in particular having symmetrical directivity, having an interference tube with a tube axis which is provided with a row of sound inlets arranged at least approximately parallel to tube axis, and which incorporates an electroacoustic transducer in its inside in the vicinity of its rear end face. It is further provided that the row of sound inlets is arranged non-symmetrically to tube axis opposite the outer periphery of interference tube.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1998Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Raimund Staat
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Patent number: 6408081Abstract: A voice sound transmitting unit having an earpiece that is adapted for insertion into the external auditory canal of a user, the earpiece having both a bone conduction sensor and an air conduction sensor. The bone conduction sensor is adapted to contact a portion of the external auditory canal to convert bone vibrations of voice sound information into electrical signals. The air conduction sensor resides within the auditory canal and converts air vibrations of the voice sound information into electrical signals. In its preferred form, a speech processor samples output from the bone conduction sensor and the air conduction sensor to filter noise and select the a pure voice sound signal for transmission. The transmission of the voice sound signal may be through a wireless linkage and may also be equipped with a speaker and receiver to enable two-way communication.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2000Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Inventor: Peter V. Boesen
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Patent number: 6381337Abstract: A sound reproduction device or a microphone comprising an enclosure (2) which is made of a substantially gas permeable flexible material and an electrical transducer (1) having at least one connection (4, 5) with the enclosure, and usually two connections, to impart movement to the enclosure where the device acts as a loudspeaker or to receive movement of the enclosure to generate an electrical signal where the device acts as a microphone. The enclosure is adapted to be stressed by internal pressure and forms a concavity centered on at least one of the connections with the electrical transducer, which concavity acts as an acoustic diaphragm.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1998Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Floating Sounds LimitedInventor: Marc Adam Greenberg
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Patent number: 6351541Abstract: An electrostatic transducer with a tubular housing in which a planar transducer membrane is arranged, whereby the transducer membrane is arranged at an angle other than 0° to the cross-section of the housing. Due to the angular arrangement of the transducer membrane to the cross-section of the housing, the transducer membrane is arranged to the ear drum in an anti-parallel fashion, which results in a minimization of the resonances inside the ear passage. Apart from that the angular arrangement of the membrane to the cross-section of the housing causes the surface of the membrane to be raised to the cross-section of the housing, which results in higher acoustic pressures and a lower dominant resonance of the system.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1997Date of Patent: February 26, 2002Assignee: Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Bert Zinserling
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Patent number: 6301367Abstract: Acoustic modules adapted to be worn on the head of a wearer, such as with a headband, or fastened to a hat or eyeglasses, are provided. The modules are situated on opposite sides of the wearer's head, adjacent the ears, and each contains a transducer, an outlet port and a vent port. The audio system is connected to, or in communication with, a conventional source of audio signals, such as a radio, tape player, CD player, cellular telephone, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1998Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Interval Research CorporationInventors: James H. Boyden, Wayne Burdick, Lorna Ross-Brook, Tricia L. Wright, Daniell Hebert, Simon Gatrall